Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Day - 4: Monsoon Cycling Around Sahyadri [Goa to Belgaum]: 16.08.2016

We all knew the day will be very
tough definitely.Morning birds whisper
made us to wake up very early around 5 am.Quickly finished our morning core job, packed the luggage, and all set
to continue the final day journey.One
more round we had photography session and continued towards Sanquileum.On the way we come across historical caves
which are preserved well.

Now the time is to fill our
stomach of Breakfast. Found a descent
small “Hotel Manisha Restaurant” at Sanquelim. The breakfast was really tasty;
we filled with Vada-Paav, Buns, Samosa, and Tea. Heavy breakfast made us little
lazy, however the day stretch a long and long steep ascend to Belagavi was not
so easy through Mahadayee & Chorla Ghat.

Arun bus departure was early than
all of us, so he decided to move fast departing from the group. He adieu us from the group and left
early. Now our group become five
members, continued our journey towards Chorla Ghat.

Soon we crossed Sanquelim, the
steep Ghat welcomed us. Nothing much
experience today except the steep ascend in the Ghat. We reached on the way a small “ANJUNEM DAM”,
Kerim, Sattari - Goa. The security
personnel not allowed us to visit the Dam, continued our journey.

Depends upon our capabilities, we
all become solo riders. Certainly I was
the last person, I was enjoying the ride like a solo. We soon entered into Madei Wild Life
Sanctuary. The roads were lonely except
wind; in between the vehicle movement; light drizzling and scarier silent of
valley.

Whenever I was feeling tiered,
parking the bike side and enjoying the nature.
Lonely roads leaded towards the Belagavi. Slowly we getting a good hike; the valley
become deeper and deeper. The
spectacular view of entire valley was more beautiful.

As beginning said, the stretch
was really more challenging for all of us.
I was asking the opposite traveler “Aur kitna door hai ye chadai hai”
(for far this steep ascend)? The answer was come down from 25KMs to 2 KMs.

We ourselves talking each other that, people
does not the distance. Taking multiple
breaks at last we reached the Karnataka border by 12 Noon.

Someone said the border is the
ending of steep ascend; no it was not.
Continued the journey towards Belagavi.
From the border Belagavi is around 60+ KMs. Rafi was motivating us showing the GPS about
the steep ascend distance and asked us to push further.

Now the time to have the
Lunch. We got a good roadside Dhaba
“Hotel Tulasi”. The hotel was empty and
we were the customer. Ordered Thali to
all of us, hot food gave relax to our stomach. Very soon two buses reached the
hotel, and it was filled with people.

The next destination was Surla
falls. I had been this place last year
too, decided not to visit the falls if it is more than 4KMs. Luckily the distance from the main road to
falls is around 3KMs, so decided to venture it again on bike.

Three KMs stretch again the challenging one,
70% of the stretch is again steep ascend.
Spent some good time, enjoyed the view of Sural falls, and continued our
journey towards Belagavi.

At one point of time decided to
pool the goods vehicle to drop the Belagavi if time not permit to reach on
time. Considering our short breaks and
good ride, Rafi confirmed that we all will reach Belagavi on time. Few of us made a mind to take a drop in
vehicle and finish the journey. Even I
was too tiered and decided to stop the riding and get into some vehicle. BUT my
mind was completely ready to accept this!!! I decided myself to stretch where
the situation go beyond my control. So I decided to continue the journey. Shanthi Prasad & Deepak decided to stop
the ride and take some vehicle drop.

Rafi again motivated me to finish
the trail at Belagavi. I continued the
journey, now the trail is rolling one. Soon
we crossed Khanapur reserved forest, now Belagavi was not away. Rafi bike got puncture again when we were
11KMs away from Belagavi. Quickly he
changed the tube and continued our journey.

At last we reached the ending
point Belagavi Bus stand around 7.40pm. I
and Rafi celebrated the victory to complete the trail from Belagavi Bus Stand
to Belagavi Bus Stand. Got refreshed in
the Yaatri Nivas with cold water. Arun was the first person to reach around 3.30 pm. Wonderful speed riding by him.

The bus was scheduled around
10pm, did small shopping around bus stand and finished the dinner. The bus is arrived on time to stand, loaded
our bikes and relaxed in the seat. The body was badly wanted relax, not talking
much and taking more time slip in to the sleep.

The over all journey around 300 KMs in four days

17.08.2016

Morning reached the Majestic
around 7.30 am, unloaded our bikes and re-assembled the front wheels. Now the time to depart with team; said good
bye everyone and assured meet in the next event. The most memorable epic four days journey
ended.

Thanks each one of the member for
supporting and accompanying the journey. A special thanks to Mohd Rafi for wonderful
organizing the event and giving an opportunity to be part of this expedition.